Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game i need a gps reccomendation

I have a Garmin GPS III plus. It's about 5 years old. Been to africa with me twice, flew over in Afghanistan and of ocurse all over the states. I really think the ones with the swivel antenne get much netter reception under tree canopies than the integral antenna units. It works grat and it's never let me down. jorge

$100 eTrex. Works great.

At this point I guess I am leaning towards the garmin 60 or the etrex legend. Gander mountain and sportsman warehouse are offering the legend with all the extras mapsource topo metroguide ac adapter and interface cable.The big question which one. The price is close to the same.

This is the cheapest I've found them. I'm leaning toward the Extrex Vista Color http://www.gpsdiscount.com/

Mark

Just trying to help the guy. As a matter of fact, I paid $200 for mine. Bought it used, on ebay.

ok, got back from the big city... had a chance to peruse several offerings, and i think the garmin 60 is the frontrunner. i didn't buy just yet, because i still have questions.

the jockey behind the counter tells me the garmin 60 comes w/ software (waypoint manager? route manager? don't recall now) to help manage routes and whatever. ok, sounds wonderful. however, i ask what is the difference between the 60 and the 60map, he couldn't tell me. intuition says the 60map comes w/ the software, and the 60 is just a basic gps w/ extra routes, waypoints, and cigarette lighter adapter and usb-port. sound right?

basically, i am just looking for a comparison between the rino 110 and the 60... i don't need the 2-way radio, so, aside from the radio comms and beaming each other around, what is the difference between the 60 and rino 110?

thanks fellas.

rhino 110 has a radio as I recall.

MD

If you are not interested at all in a radio or other future uses, then dump the Rhino suggestions. I just get tired of carrying a radio now and then, or wanting a weather report while in the field etc.. and the Rhino 130 is small enough and has all capabilities plus downloads that I just bought it. Better to have and not need than need and not have IMHO.

BTW there will always be areas where there are trees etc... to hinder reception. But again, IMHO, if you can't get to the top of the mountain or to a clearing without using a GPS you have no business in the woods at all anyway.

Unless you are injured and can't move. Then its a [email]crpshoot.[/email] Personal locator beacon or sat phone would be better and thats what i would use if going it alone. Or have a good plan and folks at home that expect you at X hour and be prepared to tough it out that long alone if needed.

Jeff

as posted above, the rino has an FRMS frequency radio.

the difference between the 60 and the 60map is that the 60map has the capability to display road maps (basic highway map included) and usgs topo maps if you buy them (~$100 for the whole usa)

both come with basic software that allows you to display the waypoints that you have entered on your computer, as well as the track of your path with the gps turned on.

I have a 60map, the topo or even street maps are not easy to use on the small screen, but I find it useful having road maps and topo maps available.

I still want a smallish gps that pulls sats. better than my old #12. As to leaving trip plans etc. its all good but I had to go far out of the way just a week ago to get any reading at all and worst of all the old gps would not work at all where I parked my car. I had to use an old waypoint as a reference.

I may call Garmin Monday and see what they say.

JUst make sure it's a Garmin. The software is logical and easy to learn. I have been with other hunters that have different brands and I wonder how they figure out the software.

Garmin has this figured out for the average guy and even I can use mine! I have the 12XL and although it's older it offeres every feature you want and is easy to use. MAybe you can find a USed 12XL on Ebay or from another poster here who wants to upgrade. The 12XL does everything you asked and has icons of a deer, house and fish plus many more. YOu can look at it instantly and see the locatrion you want. I have used mine extensively in Alaska, Africa and the USA without missing a beat!

I've had a Garmin model 76CS for about 6 weeks now. And, I use it several times a week hunting. It does everything I could ever ask for in a GPS.
Go to the Garmin web site and read about it. Also, Cabela's sells it too. You can get a glimpse of what it can do by reading the ad in their catalog. I got pointed in the Garmin direction by a friend, and I'm sure happy about the purchase as a result.
Don

Still using my Garmin 12 from about 1999. It doesn't have an external atenna and loses signal in big timber, but in any area that it can get reception, it's accurate. I could go out and get a new GPS tomorrow, but feel secure with the one I have.

I love my Garmin Legend!! One of the best investments I have made.

Huntr

I have the Garmin GPS III+ and really like that style. I use mine alot and really appreciate how well it works for so many different applications. I always have it on the dash while navigating the backroads to mark potential "spots" for getting permission. I also use it in my canoe and "in hand" while making my way to my tree stand or tracking in the dark. The other hand-held designs just seem so inconvenient to me after using my III+ and if I were to buy another one today, it would certainly be the Garmin V.

Hey Nebby,I heard you use that GPS just to find the front of the canoe, seeing that the back and front look alike. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Steve

thanks for all the input fellas. really do appreciate it. nebraska, i read your post too late for it to matter, but the gps you reccomend is probably out of my price range, anyway.

i ended up w/ a garmin legend. now, i'm gonna go try to see how the damned thing works...

oh, for those interested: the garmin 60, 72, 76, and rhino 110 were on my short list, and i actually went in to buy the 60 today, but talked myself into the legend. hope i don't start wishing for the 60, because i am still doubting myself!

I just ordered a Garmin Map 76CS to replace my huge old fashioned Lowrance unit.

I'm looking forward to using it, but the funny thing is - I never actually "have" do. I mean to me, it's a great back-up - but if you have to actually use it - you just failed "basic woodsmanship 101" - because you needed to use an electronic device to find your way to something, or back to something.

Don't get me wrong - GPS's are wonderful devices - but every time you need to turn them on - you should feel a little sheepish about having to do so. Regard every GPS use as a small failure of basic woodsmanship - and you might find you are getting way better in your "traditional" woodsmanship skills.

It's kind of like using a second shot in a rifle - you're glad you had the opportunity to use that second round - but you really shouldn't have had to use it.

oh, i'm not even a little worried about getting lost - and i don't care about woodsmanship 101... there is very little wooded area in s.d., almost all prairie. so, if i'm 5 or 6 miles out from my truck, i can probably still see it. meaning, i'm not going to get lost.

what i want the gps to do, is get me back to that exact spot that i saw that mulie disappear into, or get me back to where i left the deer carcass at 8:00 am before taking off in pursuit of my brother's deer until well after dark, etc...

even in the black hills of s.d. (our only 'wooded' area), it is almost impossible to get lost... so what i wanted the gps for was to make it easier and faster to get to spots, not to make sure that i won't get lost.

however, you make a good point, and if i lived anywhere close to a tree, i'd heed your advice.

I have used GPS technology for about ten years. My first ones were Magellans and they were great. I did have some problems with every one of them- usually water penetration. The company always treated me well even when they were out of warranty and replaced more than one unit at no charge. (I'm sure the letters I sent explaining the kinds of abuses they survived before finally giving it up helped!) I have used Garmins now for several years and like them even better. None has given me problems with water penetration nor have I had to use warranty service from them.

You should be able to find what you need for around $150 or less. The basic unit are very easy to learn but sometimes it is nice to have some of the more sophisticated features available on models which have more screen options. The little eTrexs are fine models available with varying numbers of features available in various versions. They are small, a fact that can be good (compactness) as well as bad (harder to see/read). If you have good (young) eyes, the smallness may not be an issue. I happen to have 20/20 farsightedness and aging eyes which makes uncorrected reading a challenge, especially when it is done "on the fly." I like the somewhat bigger GPS units which can be formatted to have larger screen graphics. A unit I like is the Garmin GPS 72. It is still a basic unit, doesn't get into the mapping stuff, costs in the $150 range, and has more screens options for naviagtion use.

While the low end units will show you where you need to go to get where you want to go - often with a pointer- I like a screen that shows me which compass direction (bearing) my desired location is from me and what my course of travel (heading/course) actually is. The slightly-above-bottom units will usually offer such screen options. Additionally, you can set them up to show other things like the actual distance (straight line) you are from the destination. Of course there are also probably two or three dozen other information choices you have for screen options such as ETA, time of day, speed, odometer options, etc.

The actual features you want, need, or will use is an individual thing. What you might be satisfied with in the first six months may seem a bit limiting after you see what they can do for you. I use them too much, and find them to be far too useful as navigation tools, to recommend the most basic models. I have taught many young fols in their use as well so I know that it isn't much more or a stretch to teach basic use of the slightly more featured versions.

You obviously have to make the final call on it. There are probably a lot of folks who can help you with questions after you get started - if you have them. I, for one, will be more than happy to field your PMs if you have questions. Take advantage of the manufacturer websites to help you make your decision also.